Tonight on the main stage during FOX Sports Ohio Redsfest presented by PNC Bank at Duke Energy Convention Center downtown, the Reds and the local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced their 2016 award winners.
1B Joey Votto (158g, .326, 34 2b, 2 3b, 29 HR, 97 RBI, 8 SB) unanimously was named winner of the BBWAA's Ernie Lombardi Award as the team's Most Valuable Player. He finished seventh in the NL Most Valuable Player Award voting and was a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award.
RHP Dan Straily (34g, 31gs, 14-8, 3.76, 191.1ip, 154h, 73bb, 162k) received the Johnny Vander Meer Most Outstanding Pitcher Award, also unanimously. Claimed off waivers 3 days before Opening Day, he led the Reds' pitching staff in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts.
C Tucker Barnhart (115g, .257, 23 2b, 1 3b, 7 HR 51 RBI) was voted the BBWAA's Joe Nuxhall Good Guy Award.
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Also this evening at Redsfest, OF Aristides Aquino (125g, .273, 26 2b, 12 3b, 23 HR, 79 RBI, 11 SB at Daytona) received the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award as the organization's Minor League Player of the Year. He led all Reds minor league batters in home runs and RBI while leading the Florida State League in triples, total bases and extra-base hits. Aquino also in 2016 was the FSL's Player of the Year, a Baseball America High Class A All-Star and an MiLB.com Organization All-Star. His first name is pronounced are-iss-TEEDIS.
The organization's other minor league award winners included Hitter of the Year Shed Long (132g, .293, 30 2B, 5 3B, 15 HR, 75 RBI, 21 SB at Dayton/Daytona) and Pitcher of the Year LHP Amir Garrett (25g, 23gs, 7-8, 2.55, 144.2ip, 99h, 59bb, 132k at Pensacola/Louisville). Garrett won the organization's pitcher of the year award for the second straight season and for the third straight year was an MiLB.com Organization All-Star.
RHP Barrett Astin (37g, 11gs, 9-3, 2.26, 103.1ip, 74h, 25bb, 96k at Pensacola) received the organization's Minor League Community Service Award. He was a Southern League All-Star in his first full season at Class AA.